Chapter 8: Chapter 4: The Confused Protagonists

() While all the high-level commanders were meeting on the 'Beiping,' the other members of the fleet were experiencing a different scene altogether.

The amphibious assault ship Wuyishan, the lead ship of the Type 078 series large amphibious assault ships—commonly known as the "Little Flat-top"—had long been rumored to have the hull number 081. Since its commissioning into the South Sea Fleet, it had consistently served as the command ship for the South Sea Fleet's amphibious forces.

The ship has a total length of 254 meters and utilizes an all-through flight deck similar to an aircraft carrier. It carries 18 Z-10 naval variant attack helicopters, 12 Z-9 multi-role attack helicopters, and 8 Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters. It has a maximum speed of 22 knots, a rated crew of 1,360, and a full load displacement of 42,000 tons. It can simultaneously launch and recover 8 helicopters in Sea State 6 and carry 4 "Yinniu" heavy hovercraft at once. Ever since the Wuyishan entered service, the First Marine Brigade of the South Sea Fleet has treated it as their own territory, with the brigade headquarters long stationed aboard the ship.

...

"Company Commander, you think this sudden transition to Level 1 combat readiness in the middle of the night means the Americans are attacking?" At this moment, beside the Yinniu heavy hovercraft in the belly of the Wuyishan, Lu Honglian, a loader from the 1st Battalion's Air Defense Missile Company, looked at her company commander with a nervous face, hoping he would reveal some news to give her some peace of mind.

"If you ask me, it's definitely the Japanese. The Americans aren't that stupid; they wouldn't travel all this way just to deliver meat to us. Only the Japanese would gamble on such near-zero odds. If they don't strike soon, the right-wing radicals in their country probably won't be able to show their faces anymore." Although the signaler from Jinling looked burly and rough, his analysis of current affairs was quite profound.

"If you have time to guess blindly, you'd better check your tactical terminals. Didn't you even feel the vibration just now?"

"Was there? Let me see. If there's one good thing about these tactical terminals, it's that they aren't willing to include an indicator light. Would it kill them to install a little light?"

"If you install an indicator light, you'll be a living target on the battlefield. If a sniper locks onto you, let's see how cocky you are. All company, attention! Everyone open your tactical terminals. In 50 minutes, the Commander will address the entire army."

"Yes, sir!"

As all the marines on the Wuyishan opened their tactical terminals, to the right and rear, seven "Bohai Sister Flowers," including the 'Bohai Cuizhu,' were moving at equal speed in a diamond formation. As China's third-generation civilian-military dual-use roll-on/roll-off vessels, although the "Bohai Ferry" markings made them look somewhat out of place among the surrounding grey-painted military vessels, their 178.8-meter hulls and 35,000-ton displacement allowed them to easily deliver an entire armored brigade directly to an enemy port.

The start of the full-army exercise more than ten days ago had begun with the embarkation at Yantai by the ace 38th Group Army. When the seven Bohai Sister Flowers, carrying four Type 072-2 landing ships, docked at Yantai Port, all military enthusiasts speculated that the 26th Group Army would represent the Northern Group Army in this large-scale exercise. However, the final result left everyone stunned. At that time, the 112th and 113th Mechanized Infantry Divisions under the 38th Group Army, along with the Type 99A main battle tanks of the 6th Armored Division, set out from the 38th Group Army's direct subordinate units via the Bao-Chang Expressway with the assistance of large transport vehicles. They moved at high speed to Yantai for embarkation. Private car owners along the highway recorded this magnificent sight with their mobile phone cameras, which, when uploaded online, caused a massive sensation. However, this movement did not trigger a reaction from external forces; perhaps at the time, they simply felt that "Papa America" would surely help them deal with these CCP "bumpkins."

"Driver, we're at sea. What's the use of sitting in the vehicle like this?"

"Stop talking nonsense. We are currently at Level 1 combat readiness. As long as the ship hasn't sunk, we must be ready to fight at any time."

Inside the cabin of the Type 99A main battle tank, for Chen Xin, a communications soldier who had just joined the service a year ago, this was his first time encountering Level 1 combat readiness at sea. Even the long-distance rapid deployment and island landing drills ten days ago hadn't been this tense. Back then, they had leisurely driven their tanks into the port, with Army Aviation helicopters even providing escort nearby.

"Old Han, do you think it might be the Americans or the Japanese attacking? Attacking us while we're packing up to go home, hitting us mid-crossing?" At this time, Old Wang, who had finished checking the fire control system, turned around to speculate. "If you ask me, it's definitely the Japanese. Only they would do something so disgusting. Why would they care about our exercises?"

"Whether it's the Americans or the Japanese, it has nothing to do with us right now. The Navy will handle that. We just need to guard our big toys."

"Driver, do you think we should go up and take a look? Just sitting here in this hunk of iron, I feel like something is going to happen."

"What could happen? What help could you provide if you went up? You'd just get in the way. Calm down and don't cause any trouble."

"Chen Xiaodan, don't worry. Didn't you see the Air Defense Company's treasures all went up to the deck for combat readiness? With them there, what are you worried about?"

Often, only Old Wang's easygoing attitude could put people at ease. Just then, the loudspeaker inside the cabin suddenly began to crackle, and a moment later, a voice very familiar to everyone on site came through.

"Attention all officers and men of the 6th Armored Division. Attention all officers and men of the 6th Armored Division. Level 1 combat readiness is now canceled. Level 1 combat readiness is now canceled. All combat units are to maintain Level 2 alert. All personnel must remain at their posts and are not to move around at will. All combat units, open your data link units and maintain your handheld terminal devices in an online state. In 30 minutes, the formation command headquarters will provide important information."

"So they settled the Japanese already? Not even an hour has passed. The Navy is really efficient now."

"Alright, stop guessing. Xiao Chen, check the working status of the vehicle-mounted data link unit for me. Don't drop the ball later."

"Yes, Driver!"

With the lifting of Level 1 combat readiness, the tense atmosphere of the entire formation gradually subsided. However, the sense of tension was never quite gone. At the rear of the entire formation, a logistics fleet composed of hundreds of container ships, bulk carriers, and oil tankers appeared much more peaceful. These were Chinamax-type super VLOCs, which Rong Sheng Heavy Industries had originally built for Brazil's Vale. Each was 360 meters long and 65 meters wide. In 2008, the Brazilian side had ordered a total of 16 of these from Rong Sheng Heavy Industries, then an obscure heavy equipment manufacturer, making them the largest bulk carriers in the world at the time.

As Brazil's largest resource importer, when China specifically requested the temporary lease of these ships to cooperate with the exercise, the Brazilians reluctantly agreed. However, to achieve this goal, China still purchased 2 million tons of iron ore, 400,000 tons of copper ore, and 200,000 tons of timber from Brazil to load onto the ships as a condition for the exercise cooperation. Of course, considering the needs of economic development, these resources would not cause any adverse consequences for China and could be easily absorbed.

For this exercise, the Chinese military had specially reinforced the decks of these ships, giving them flat decks to facilitate the carrying of large equipment. Currently, two Y-20 large transport aircraft were secured to each Chinamax with ropes.

The Y-20 has a wingspan of 50 meters, a length of 47 meters, a height of 15 meters, a maximum range of 7,800 kilometers, and a maximum takeoff weight of 220 tons. As a large transport aircraft designed by the Chinese military, it had captured the attention of military enthusiasts since its first flight at the Yanliang Base in 2013. Since its official induction into the Chinese Air Force in early 2014 until its arrival at the exercise location, Chinese aircraft enterprises led by Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co. had collaborated to produce a total of 42 aircraft. Among them, 10 became dedicated airborne equipment for the 15th Army, 10 served as strategic reserves, 2 were converted into the pride of the Air Force, the KJ-3000 large early warning aircraft, and the remaining 20 were distributed among various strategic transport air force divisions. And on the decks of this fleet were the treasures of the 15th Army and the entire Air Force.

In the bridge of one of the ships, Captain Luo Dayou mechanically refreshed the ship's GPS compass. He had been woken up by the second mate nearly an hour ago, then informed of Level 1 alert, only to find the satellite compass had failed. Fortunately, the temporarily installed data link terminal was still working; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to guarantee the safety of this giant vessel while temporarily taking command of it. He now somewhat regretted taking this temporary assignment. If he had known, he would have preferred to pilot the VLOC of Zhongyuan; at least he had been with that old fellow for nearly 10 years, and he could sail back to Shanghai Port even with his eyes closed. He wondered where the old fellow was in the formation now; once they reached port, he would definitely apply to be reassigned to his original unit.

While he was lost in thought, the door to the cockpit opened, and the first mate walked in, drenched in sweat. "Old Luo, those Air Force guys are really looking for trouble. Instead of flying their planes in the sky, they insist on having our merchant ships carry them back. I just went to check; luckily it's May and the sea conditions are good. If it were a few months later, I couldn't guarantee those ropes would hold such massive planes."

"Alright, stop complaining. We only have two. Those Capes following us have over a dozen fighters and helicopters secured on their decks. Compared to their first mates, you've got it easy."

"I'm just complaining. If something happens to these planes on our watch, those soldiers will kill me. Don't you think those Air Force people are just looking for trouble?"

"Didn't the command headquarters say this is a drill for equipment transport operations under extreme circumstances?"

"Bullshit. They just don't want to waste the lease fees they've already paid. They just can't stand seeing us making easy money."

"Alright, keep that to yourself. It seems Level 1 alert has been canceled. Notify the boatswain; if there's nothing to do, he can arrange for non-duty crew members to rest."

Just as the first mate was about to open the intercom to notify the crew to rest, the cockpit door opened once more, and the political commissar jogged in.

"Old Luo, send out a notice: all non-essential crew members are to gather in the canteen. On-duty crew members, turn on your intercoms."

"What's up, Commissar? Is there a war?"

"No. In 30 minutes, the formation commander will address everyone. Everyone must be present."

"Alright, First Mate, pass it on."

"Yes, Captain."